Are you a sunrise or sunset person? For those of us living in Wyoming it's a difficult choice because we are fortunate to experience an abundance of sunny days each year, offering endless opportunities to enjoy both.
If I had to choose, it would be the sunrise. Each morning, the sunrise reminds me how grateful I am to live and work here. It inspires me to work hard and make an impact, following the example of the many dedicated wildlife professionals who came before me. I inherited an incredible agency responsible for remarkable fish and wildlife, and for that, I am truly grateful.
Wyoming is a place like no other. It shines above other states with our fish and wildlife remaining a prominent part of the landscape. One that comes to the top of my mind is pronghorn, especially after a weekend of pursuing them in an area that supports a high population. For me, pronghorn symbolize the wide-open, sagebrush landscapes. This intact habitat allows them to move freely without the endless miles that are without infrastructure, the same landscapes that create those incredible sunrises. Allowing for more pronghorn than anywhere else in the world.
As a native midwesterner, I am always thrilled to experience and promote our world-class trout fishing. Our fisheries have created more lasting memories for us and those around the world more than anything else we do. These opportunities we have in our backyard are the envy of many and a treasure worth our efforts.
I am most thankful for the wide-open spaces and the lack of fragmentation. I can’t get enough of the vastness and infinite viewsheds. It’s what Wyoming is known for, and I am immensely grateful for all the private landowners and ranchers who continuously provide us with the panoramic view. The sagebrush ecosystem provides habitat for more than 400 species. Our work in its management, through sage-grouse policy, habitat quality improvements or the connection of important habitats, is immensely valuable and necessary for this landscape to continue supporting our wildlife.
The story of grizzly bear recovery is mostly overshadowed by the fact that Wyoming still does not oversee its management. This achievement is harder to appreciate with the constant conflict with ranchers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts impacting livelihoods and putting lives at risk. Nevertheless, I am grateful we have accomplished recovery. Our population has been restored for more than 20 years. Having grizzly bears on the landscape and managed in a way that balances social tolerance is still needed. Wyoming is prepared and capable of this task. Full management is long overdue.
Wolf management exemplifies tremendous balance and tolerance. Wyoming’s approach is unique, creative and historical. This innovation in management allows for these impressive animals to maintain a healthy population while respecting a multi-use landscape. An approach, not without its difficulties, but one that has worked.
Wyoming has black-footed ferrets, statewide mule deer populations, bighorn sheep, expanding moose numbers and robust elk populations. We truly have it all.
As I take this time to reflect, there is so much to be grateful for. As the sun sets, it provides me an opportunity for reflection and for thinking about the days ahead. What will tomorrow bring? What are the future challenges that fish and wildlife will face and how will we tackle them? And most importantly, what more can we accomplish? The opportunity to ask these questions and be part of the solutions in Wyoming is at the top of my list of gratitude. As you spend time with family and friends this holiday season, take time to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. I hope your reflection includes memories made enjoying the fish and wildlife in Wyoming and planning for future ones.